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Broad Street Theatre, Broad Street at Locust

Item Info

Item No: pdcl00176
Title: Broad Street Theatre, Broad Street at Locust
Additional Title: Broad Street Theatre, Broad Street at Locust, 1898
Historic Street Address: Broad and Locust Streets
Historic Street Address: Broad Street, South
Media Type: Scrapbooks
Source: Print and Picture Collection
Notes: "This extraordinary building was opened in 1876 especially for the entertainment of the crowds expected to attend the Centennial Exposition. It was known as Kiralfy's Alhambra Palace (the Kiralfys were important performers and impresarios based in New York), and offered the general public not only theatrical extravaganzas but also a beer garden and an open-air restaurant. Its ornate interior was painted in brilliant colors meant to suggest its namesake in Spain. The theater underwent many architectural modifications during its long history, and by the time it was taken down in 1937 it had lost most of its original appeal. The play advertised in the photo is The Conquerors, performed by Charles Frohman's Empire Theatre (New York) Company."--OPEP, p. 181.
Notes: The palacial building with two domes; a sign "Broad Street Theatre" and an American flag hanging over one set of doors; an awning over another; three posters advertising "The Conquerors"; and on the right, a sign reading "...Empire Theatre Company...The Conquerors...." Two men standing in front of the center of the building and one man standing with a bicycle on the left. Large street lamp in front.
Bibliography: Reprinted in: Old Philadelphia in early photographs, 1839-1914/edited by Robert F. Looney. New York: Dover Publications, c1976.

Creation Year: 1898
Geocode Latitude: Geocode Longitude:-75.164513
Geocode Latitude:39.948205

Call Number: A917.481 P536 v.2